Other Therapy and Assessment Technical Workers

Nature of work

This group includes workers who perform various technical therapy and assessment functions. Some may help professionals like audiologists, speech-language pathologists, ophthalmologists, physiotherapists, and occupational therapists. They work in hospitals, clinics, extended care facilities, rehabilitation centres, educational institutions, and in the private practices of the professionals they support.

Job duties

Hearing instrument practitioners:

• Examine adult clients to assess hearing loss using diagnostic evaluation and electro acoustic testing.
• Recommend and dispense appropriate type of hearing instrument.
• Take earmold impressions for use in the manufacture of hearing devices.
• Fit, adjust, and make minor modifications to hearing instruments.
• Educate clients in appropriate use, care, and maintenance of hearing instruments.
• Perform follow-up examinations and readjustments.

Audiometric technicians:

• Under the supervision of audiologists, administer tests like pure tone hearing screening, impedance tests and noise level measurements using specialized equipment to determine hearing thresholds of patients.
• Instruct patients on test procedures and record results.
• Monitor, check and calibrate auditory equipment.
• May take earmold impressions and fit and adjust hearing instruments.

Communicative disorders assistants and speech-language pathology assistants:

• Help speech-language pathologists and audiologists during patient assessments.
• Carry out treatment programs, document results and develop materials for use with patients, under the supervision of speech-language pathologists or audiologists.
• Document patient rehabilitation progress.
• Check and maintain therapeutic equipment and materials.

Ophthalmic medical assistants:

• Use ophthalmic testing and measuring instruments to aid ophthalmologists in assessing patients' vision.
• Record test results.
• Help ophthalmologists in office surgery.
• Administer eye drops, ointments and medications as directed by ophthalmologists.
• Clean and maintain instruments and equipment used during examinations.
• Take patients' general medical and ophthalmic history.
• Perform various administrative duties.

Physiotherapy assistants and occupational therapy assistants:

• Under the direction of physiotherapists and/or occupational therapists, carry out treatment programs like thermotherapy, traction, hydrotherapy, and electrotherapeutic techniques to rehabilitate patients with various injuries or disabilities to maximize their ability to independently manage daily activities.

Sample job titles

• audiology technician
• audiometrist
• hearing aid dispenser
• hearing aid practitioner
• hearing assessment technician
• hearing instrument practitioner
• occupational therapy technician
• ophthalmic assistant
• physical therapist assistant (PTA)
• physiotherapist assistant (PTA)
• speech therapy aide
• speech-language pathology assistant

Skills

You must be able to communicate effectively with people and demonstrate a strong sense of responsibility, good judgement, patience, and self-discipline. Therapists must be creative and unique in their approach to each client. The ability to inspire confidence and to motivate clients is important. A strong sense of responsibility, good judgement, and communication skills are also necessary.

Job requirements

• Hearing instrument practitioners require completion of a three-year college diploma in a hearing instrument specialist program, including a period of supervised training.
• Licensure with a regulatory body is required for hearing instrument practitioners in Nova Scotia. Hearing instrument practitioners can prescribe and dispense hearing instruments in Nova Scotia.
• Audiometric technicians and communicative disorders and speech-language pathology assistants require completion of a 12- to 18-month college program in communicative disorders or some post-secondary education and on-the-job training.
• Ophthalmic medical assistants require completion of a one- to two-year college program or a two-year hospital-based training program in ophthalmic medical technology or a minimum of one year of supervised practical training under an ophthalmologist and completion of an approved ophthalmic assistant home study program.
• Physiotherapy assistants require completion of a two- to three-year college program in physical rehabilitation therapy or a two-year physical therapy assistant (PTA) program and supervised practical training.
• Occupational therapy assistants require completion of a two-year occupational therapy assistant (OTA) college program.

Other considerations

Those not employed with public institutions or agencies are often self-employed in a private or group practice. In most provinces occupational therapy assistants (OTA) and physiotherapy assistants (PTA) receive training through a single OTA/PTA program in community colleges.

Regulations

Contacts

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